phelps

OMG!!! however, then Italy destroyed France... and also Japan in the women's foil... so, 2 teams out of 2 in the semis...the day looks promising... on the other pistes, USA eliminated Russia in the men's sabre quarters! and Abedini just destroyed Szatmari (new individual world champion) rejuvenating the Iranian team against HUN...now they start the last leg of their match basically tied (actually, really tied at 40 between Pakdaman and Szilagyi)...

painful day for Italy... Fiamingo didn't get any medal after 3 consecutive years on the podium (world champion in 2014 and 2015, Olympic Silver medallist last year)... her teammates showed once again that they have no talent and can't win anything at this level... Garozzo suddenly lost his magic touch against an unknown Japanese Kid (Tokyo 2020...we're coming) and had to be happy with bronze, missing his personal "triplete" after the Olympic and the European Gold medals... Foconi had a very good first experience at world champs, but couldn't get his reward once again against another youngster from Japan (Tokyo 2020...we're coming...in force and charging!) and Cassarà lost his mind another time when the going gets tough, proving he's not the tough man he thinks he is... p.s. bad news for the men's sabre team, who lost Aldo Montano for tomorrow's team event because of an ankle injury (he's already back to Italy...young substitute Dario Cavaliere has been called up to take Montano's place for tomorrow)... on the other side, congrats to the Russian second tier guys, who got both of today's golds when nobody expected them to even pass the early rounds... and congrats to these Japanese guys, who have been really impressive throughout the whole day and deserved the medals they finally got... it's not beautiful to be said, but I'm also happy for the American epic fail...a bit more sportsmanship and fair play from (not all, but many of) them would be highly appreciated...

it means that the climber did reach the successive height but couldn't "finish it completely" (didn't lock the catch of the marker)... basically, it's like a .5 bonus compared to those who lose their position immediately after a full mark...

Cassarà as I wrote before, his mind is not "normal"... even the best psychiatrist would have his own troubles in treating him...

good is good, but definitely Imboden is not the king of fair play... however, if he plays like against the German guy, he has no chance against Garozzo...he needs to raise his game...and not by a little...

surprisingly good! but also a bit disappointing Imboden, right now... this gives me more confidence for Garozzo's next bout, at this point...

if Cassarà can keep his mind "normal", there's no match between him and Foconi... but the youngster looks very determined...I really liked his attitude against Kleibrink... to be honest, I hope Cassarà wins this match because he's the only one who can take care of Massialas in the possible semis (provided he can put the really hot Shikine back at his place in the quarterfinals)... however, despite my hope, I'm afraid we're going to see an all-US final (Imboden vs Massialas)...

actually I don't remember exactly all the facts, but I'm sure that our TV speaker told something about that during the last Europeans... I'd like to know something more, but I can't find any further news...

not so sure...Cerioni always spoke very well about Zherebchenko (by the way, he also has quite a personal story behind him...I don't know if he had heart transplant or only heart surgery when he was younger, but I'm sure he had great health troubles...and now he's back at his best shape and more motivated than anybody else...I have to admit that, apart the Italians, of course, I'd really like to see him on the podium)...

next round against Imboden (I don't think Sanita has any chance against the American) will be quite different, I guess...

15-6 also for Garozzo... Kruse surprisingly destroyed Meinhardt...

Shikine wins 15-3, Garozzo now leading 13-5...

Shikine on fire! 10-1 ahead against Arslanov! Garozzo easily leading against Ha (10-5)

Fiamingo is definitey being influenced by her teammates...she's getting worse and worse every year... I think it's time to give space to our great former juniors Bozza, Isola and Marzani...

c'mon! all videos crashed on the final seconds of Fiamingo vs Nelip and Ndolo vs Szasz! I can believe that!!!

trampoline should stay in Circus, where it belongs... Diving is one of "those kind of activities" (couldn't name them all)...

well...maybe you can say that's a fascinating discipline (individual preference shouldn't be discussed, only respected)... but definitely that's not sport (like they're not sport rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, aerobics and all those kind of activities)...

Julio Maglione (81) is still the FINA President... with some "magic" in the whole procedure, the elections that took place earlier today also designated Husain Al Musallam as vice-president... to be noticed that Al Musallam is also president of the Asian Olympic Committees Association and involved in many scandals (there's a video where he tried to get money from a potential Chinese sponsor, another procedure in the US where he's charged with attempted corruption of a soccer referee and other major and minor issues always about corruption here and there)... moreover, FINA reinstated Vladimir Salnikov among their Bureau members (Salnikov is deeply involved in the Russian State Doping affair)... what a wonderful and transparent future is ahead of all swimmers and swimming fans throughout the entire world...

Paolo Pizzoooooo!!! wow! 2nd World title for him...and this time it's really a great surprise (even if he already showed a good shape at the Europeans last month when he won the silver medal...but, you know, the europeans are surely not comparable to the worlds)... he tried to lose a won match, but this time he couldn't...a finally we got our first gold of this year's worlds... and this compensate the shameful end of Vecchi's bout (and the the disapponiting day of all the other Italian fencers)...

still, today it's 3-1 France the summary of our "classic" derby... but you're right...in the end we have a medal (and with a bit of luck it can be Gold) and they don't...so, I stop whining about men's epee... but I can't let things go on women's sabre...if Gregorio was irritating against Kharlan (who remains a lot stronger than her), what can I say about Vecchi? she's been the luckiest girl in Leipzig today, she got a place in the semis that didn't deserve at all, she's up against a girl who's not even close to her skills, she's 14-10 ahead... and what does she do? she loses her nerves, stops doing what she needs to do and let the Tunesian comeback from hell... c'mon, man! she must go to work in the mine!!! really shameful performance...and no excuses... by the way, Kharlan has just won her 3rd world title without even a sweat drop... for what concerns epee, instead, it's quite normal to have veterans and experienced guys among the best because it's the less athletic and most tactical weapon...more than great fitness and strenght, in epee you need patience, experience, ability to keep yourself calm (most bouts go to the last hit...if you let yourself get annoyed by nerves, you don't have chances in cases like those ones), which are features you can find more among elder people rather than youngsters...

this happens in Boulder and Lead...every place has a different structure... but Speed is quite a different thing, in fact you can find athletes who are very good in both Boulder and Lead, but they usually don't even try Speed (and viceversa)... that's why the Olympic format (a combined event with all 3 disciplines) is a complete farce (and something that doesn't even exists in current Sport Climbing)...

no, single run only...

irritating performance by Gregorio against Kharlan...she had the bout in her hands and then suddenly stopped attacking and let the Ukranian comeback... and it's not the first time that she wastes chances this way... meanwhile Vecchi was very lucky...she was almost out against Balzer (FRA), when the French girl had such a bad accident (I think ligaments of her knee are gone)... I think we have to rebuild our women's sabre team as quick as possible (talents are there...we dominated the last few seasons among the juniors...so...what are the coaches waiting for???)...

@Gianlu33 in Italy we have a good championship...the overall level is decent for non-US standards, but it was better 10 or 15 years ago... now there are countries like Germany and Austria that are clearly stronger than the others...then we have France, Italy, GBR and some Nordic Nations also with good tradition and level of play...but still a lot lower than Japan, Mexico and of course North America (which is a world apart in this discipline)... Italian Superbowl was played just a couple of weekes ago (it was shown live on Fox Sports HD) and was won by the Seamen Milano against the Rhinos (also from Milan), that had a perfect season until the last game but unfortunately they lost when it mattered the most...

OK...but I have a clear idea about that...I'm a great NFL fan and I also watch some European American Football sometimes...so, I know what's the abyss between us and them...